Last Modified: Friday, August 2, 2013 at 2:22 p.m.

Because of unpredictable weather, the storytellers will perform inside the Interpretive Center.

The storytellers include:

u Ronnie Pepper, who has more than two decades of experience working as an educator of young children and was the director of Henderson County Head Start Centers. Pepper was the recipient of National Scholastic's Early Childhood Professionals Award in 2000. He is a native of Henderson County and a member of Hendersonville High School's Hall of Fame. He serves on numerous boards, including BRCC, the Housing Authority and African Medical Mission. He is a sought-after performer who delights audiences with his engaging style, energy and high caliber performance.

u Virginia "Blackfeather" Thompson is a longtime local resident and Cherokee descendent. Her stories are often based on Cherokee lore. She is a frequent presenter and storyteller during the annual school tours of the farm.

u Virginia Newsome is a well-known local storyteller and resident since 1999. Previously, she participated as a storyteller in the Florida Folk Festival during the 1970s and '80s, often telling stories of folks from around the world. She will be sharing American folk tales.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children. Call 828-891-6585 or visit www.historicjohnsonfarm.org for more information.

Opportunity House seeking festival vendors

The Opportunity House still has some spaces for arts and crafts vendors to participate in the 51st annual Apple Festival Arts and Crafts Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 30-31 at 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville.

The Opportunity House also welcomes homemade specialty breads and quality, local produce vendors. Work must be of high quality and handmade, not commercially mass produced.

For those interested in participating, call 828-692-0575 or email leslie@opportunityhouse.org for more information.

Brevard

Community band concert Aug. 11

Art and music share center stage at the Brevard Community Band's final 2013 concert performance at 3 p.m. Aug. 11 in Brevard College's Porter Center.

Members of the Transylvania County Art Guild will present an exhibition of paintings in the Porter Center lobby, and the band will perform a program featuring two major works inspired by art and artists. The band is conducted by Jamie Hafner.

The program will open with Henri Rene's "Passion in Paint," a musical interpretation of three famous paintings: "At the Moulin Rouge" by Toulouse Lautrec, "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali, and "L'Absinthe" by Edgar Degas. The artistic theme continues with Norman Dello Joio's 1964 composition "Scenes from the Louvre," which was originally written for an NBC television program dedicated to exploring that famous art museum.

The program will also feature percussionist Jason DeCristofaro performing G.H. Green's famous xylophone solo "Fluffy Ruffles." DeCristofaro is a performer, teacher and composer and serves as an adjunct faculty member at Brevard College.

Tickets for the performance are $10 for adults; students 18 and younger are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at Rockin' Robins in Brevard, from any band member, or at the door on the day of the concert.

Call 828-885-5456 or visit www.brevard communityband.org for more information.

This class will touch on digital photography basics, composition and exposure with some hands-on photography. Learn how to creatively photograph objects, the best lighting and backgrounds for certain types of scenes. The class is limited to 12 people. Bring your camera and camera manual with you.

To learn more about Hardy, visit www.kathyhardyphotography.com. To register, call 828-884-2787.

PENLAND

Benefit auctions on Friday, Saturday

The Penland School of Crafts 28th annual benefit auction will take place at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday on the historic Penland campus north of Asheville.

The weekend includes live and silent auctions, music, food, receptions at the Penland Gallery and the studios of Penland's resident artists, and displays of the auction work donated by the school's current and former instructors, resident artists and core fellows. Absentee bidding is available.

Featured in the auction are major works by North Carolina artists Mark Peiser and Randy Shull. Peiser is a pioneering figure in the world of glass art. He was a founder of the Glass Art Society and has received the North Carolina Governor's Award.

The featured work by Randy Shull is a painted table that sits in front of a large painting on several wooden panels. Taken together, under the title, "Juxtaposition in Black and White," these elements create a single composition that combines function, sculpture and abstract imagery. Shull is an artist based in Asheville whose work was the subject of a recent retrospective exhibition shown in museums in North Carolina, New Orleans, San Francisco and Washington state.

The auction begins Friday with a preview of the auction work, a silent auction, a display and sale of work by Penland's core fellows, dinner, live auction, music and dancing.

Saturday's festivities begin with coffee and pastries and an open house at the studios of Penland's resident artists. Coffee will be served in souvenir handmade mugs. This will be followed by a silent auction, luncheon and live auction. The weekend ends with a reception at the Penland Gallery. The auctioneer for the weekend is Mark Oliver of Bonham's auction house in London.

All events take place on the Penland School campus in Mitchell County. Weekend tickets are $375, Friday tickets are $200, and Saturday tickets are $250. Absentee bidding is available for a $25 fee, which includes a color catalog. Reservations are required.

For more information or to make reservations, call 828-765-2359, Ext. 30, e-mail auction@penland.org or follow visit www.penland.org.

Juried jewelers are invited to exhibit and share how and why they use the materials and techniques with their followers and collectors. Other show dates are Sept. 14 and Oct. 19. Call 828-693-4545 for more information.

TRYON

Edgar to teach memoir-writing

Local author Robin A. Edgar will conduct a life writing retreat based on her book "In My Mother's Kitchen: An Introduction to the Healing Power of Reminiscence."

The interactive workshop sessions will be Oct. 4-6 at Wildacres atop a Pompey's Knob Mountain in Little Switzerland, adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and thousands of acres of the Pisgah National Forest.

Everyone has a story to tell and, whether you want to leave a legacy for your grandchildren or simply desire to celebrate the individuals and events that shaped your life, recording your memories can be very rewarding.

Women residing in Western North Carolina, 21 years of age or older, are eligible to apply for The Candy Fund (TCF) scholarships for up to $250 or 50 percent of tuition/program costs (whichever is less). Qualified applicants will need to register for the retreat before they apply.

A lifestyle journalist and storyteller for more than 30 years, Edgar successfully shares her expertise in reminiscence writing at venues around the country. In North Carolina, she has conducted seminars at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, the Novello Festival in Charlotte, the Writer's Workshop in Asheville, and the Lanier Library in Tryon.

In order to give participants full attention, the class size for Life Writing is limited to 10 participants. The fee for this weekend retreat is $290 and includes five interactive sessions and a double-occupancy room for two nights with five meals.

Skyuka Fine Art will host an opening reception for William Jameson's "Exploring The Blue Ridge" exhibit from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the gallery, 133 N. Trade St., Tryon.

This is a show that continues Jameson's life passion — exploring nature, one painting after another. His recent trips among the Blue Ridge Mountains and specifically the Appalachian Trail are brought to life on his canvases.

This show coincides with the Tryon Gallery Trot, where 15 galleries, shops and businesses host opening receptions and demonstrations.

Project X will be playing in the center of town, street performers entertain, and free horse-drawn carriage rides will take guests up and down Trade Street.

The exhibit displays through Sept. 13. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Call 828-817-3783, email info@skyukafineart.com or visit skyukafineart.com for more information.

<p>Storytelling at Johnson Farm on Wednesday</p><p>Traditional folk tales will entertain guests at a storytelling event at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville.</p><p>Because of unpredictable weather, the storytellers will perform inside the Interpretive Center.</p><p>The storytellers include:</p><p>u Ronnie Pepper, who has more than two decades of experience working as an educator of young children and was the director of Henderson County Head Start Centers. Pepper was the recipient of National Scholastic's Early Childhood Professionals Award in 2000. He is a native of Henderson County and a member of Hendersonville High School's Hall of Fame. He serves on numerous boards, including BRCC, the Housing Authority and African Medical Mission. He is a sought-after performer who delights audiences with his engaging style, energy and high caliber performance.</p><p>u Virginia "Blackfeather" Thompson is a longtime local resident and Cherokee descendent. Her stories are often based on Cherokee lore. She is a frequent presenter and storyteller during the annual school tours of the farm.</p><p>u Virginia Newsome is a well-known local storyteller and resident since 1999. Previously, she participated as a storyteller in the Florida Folk Festival during the 1970s and '80s, often telling stories of folks from around the world. She will be sharing American folk tales.</p><p>Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children. Call 828-891-6585 or visit www.historicjohnsonfarm.org for more information.</p><p>Opportunity House seeking festival vendors</p><p>The Opportunity House still has some spaces for arts and crafts vendors to participate in the 51st annual Apple Festival Arts and Crafts Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 30-31 at 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. </p><p>The Opportunity House also welcomes homemade specialty breads and quality, local produce vendors. Work must be of high quality and handmade, not commercially mass produced.</p><p>For those interested in participating, call 828-692-0575 or email leslie@opportunityhouse.org for more information.</p><p>Brevard</p><p>Community band concert Aug. 11</p><p>Art and music share center stage at the Brevard Community Band's final 2013 concert performance at 3 p.m. Aug. 11 in Brevard College's Porter Center. </p><p>Members of the Transylvania County Art Guild will present an exhibition of paintings in the Porter Center lobby, and the band will perform a program featuring two major works inspired by art and artists. The band is conducted by Jamie Hafner.</p><p>The program will open with Henri Rene's "Passion in Paint," a musical interpretation of three famous paintings: "At the Moulin Rouge" by Toulouse Lautrec, "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali, and "L'Absinthe" by Edgar Degas. The artistic theme continues with Norman Dello Joio's 1964 composition "Scenes from the Louvre," which was originally written for an NBC television program dedicated to exploring that famous art museum.</p><p>The program will also feature percussionist Jason DeCristofaro performing G.H. Green's famous xylophone solo "Fluffy Ruffles." DeCristofaro is a performer, teacher and composer and serves as an adjunct faculty member at Brevard College. </p><p>Tickets for the performance are $10 for adults; students 18 and younger are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at Rockin' Robins in Brevard, from any band member, or at the door on the day of the concert. </p><p>Call 828-885-5456 or visit www.brevard communityband.org for more information.</p><p>BREVARD</p><p>Digital photography workshop Aug. 21</p><p>A Beginners Basic Digital Photography Workshop with Kathy Hardy is set for 12:30-4:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the TC Arts Council, 349 S. Caldwell Street, Brevard.</p><p>The cost of the workshop is $50. </p><p>This class will touch on digital photography basics, composition and exposure with some hands-on photography. Learn how to creatively photograph objects, the best lighting and backgrounds for certain types of scenes. The class is limited to 12 people. Bring your camera and camera manual with you.</p><p>To learn more about Hardy, visit www.kathyhardyphotography.com. To register, call 828-884-2787.</p><p>PENLAND</p><p>Benefit auctions on Friday, Saturday</p><p>The Penland School of Crafts 28th annual benefit auction will take place at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday on the historic Penland campus north of Asheville. </p><p>The weekend includes live and silent auctions, music, food, receptions at the Penland Gallery and the studios of Penland's resident artists, and displays of the auction work donated by the school's current and former instructors, resident artists and core fellows. Absentee bidding is available.</p><p>Featured in the auction are major works by North Carolina artists Mark Peiser and Randy Shull. Peiser is a pioneering figure in the world of glass art. He was a founder of the Glass Art Society and has received the North Carolina Governor's Award. </p><p>The featured work by Randy Shull is a painted table that sits in front of a large painting on several wooden panels. Taken together, under the title, "Juxtaposition in Black and White," these elements create a single composition that combines function, sculpture and abstract imagery. Shull is an artist based in Asheville whose work was the subject of a recent retrospective exhibition shown in museums in North Carolina, New Orleans, San Francisco and Washington state.</p><p>The auction begins Friday with a preview of the auction work, a silent auction, a display and sale of work by Penland's core fellows, dinner, live auction, music and dancing. </p><p>Saturday's festivities begin with coffee and pastries and an open house at the studios of Penland's resident artists. Coffee will be served in souvenir handmade mugs. This will be followed by a silent auction, luncheon and live auction. The weekend ends with a reception at the Penland Gallery. The auctioneer for the weekend is Mark Oliver of Bonham's auction house in London.</p><p>All events take place on the Penland School campus in Mitchell County. Weekend tickets are $375, Friday tickets are $200, and Saturday tickets are $250. Absentee bidding is available for a $25 fee, which includes a color catalog. Reservations are required. </p><p>For more information or to make reservations, call 828-765-2359, Ext. 30, e-mail auction@penland.org or follow visit www.penland.org. </p><p>Art MoB juried jewelry show ongoing</p><p>The monthly juried jewelry show continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 in the Art MoB Studios & Marketplace parking lot, 124 Fourth Ave. E., in downtown Hendersonville. </p><p>Juried jewelers are invited to exhibit and share how and why they use the materials and techniques with their followers and collectors. Other show dates are Sept. 14 and Oct. 19. Call 828-693-4545 for more information.</p><p>TRYON</p><p>Edgar to teach memoir-writing</p><p>Local author Robin A. Edgar will conduct a life writing retreat based on her book "In My Mother's Kitchen: An Introduction to the Healing Power of Reminiscence."</p><p>The interactive workshop sessions will be Oct. 4-6 at Wildacres atop a Pompey's Knob Mountain in Little Switzerland, adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and thousands of acres of the Pisgah National Forest. </p><p>Everyone has a story to tell and, whether you want to leave a legacy for your grandchildren or simply desire to celebrate the individuals and events that shaped your life, recording your memories can be very rewarding. </p><p>Women residing in Western North Carolina, 21 years of age or older, are eligible to apply for The Candy Fund (TCF) scholarships for up to $250 or 50 percent of tuition/program costs (whichever is less). Qualified applicants will need to register for the retreat before they apply. </p><p>A lifestyle journalist and storyteller for more than 30 years, Edgar successfully shares her expertise in reminiscence writing at venues around the country. In North Carolina, she has conducted seminars at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, the Novello Festival in Charlotte, the Writer's Workshop in Asheville, and the Lanier Library in Tryon. </p><p>In order to give participants full attention, the class size for Life Writing is limited to 10 participants. The fee for this weekend retreat is $290 and includes five interactive sessions and a double-occupancy room for two nights with five meals.</p><p>Registration deadline is Sept. 6. To register, visit www.robinedgar.com. </p><p>Tryon</p><p>Jameson exhibit opening at Skyuka</p><p>Skyuka Fine Art will host an opening reception for William Jameson's "Exploring The Blue Ridge" exhibit from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the gallery, 133 N. Trade St., Tryon.</p><p>This is a show that continues Jameson's life passion — exploring nature, one painting after another. His recent trips among the Blue Ridge Mountains and specifically the Appalachian Trail are brought to life on his canvases. </p><p>This show coincides with the Tryon Gallery Trot, where 15 galleries, shops and businesses host opening receptions and demonstrations. </p><p>Project X will be playing in the center of town, street performers entertain, and free horse-drawn carriage rides will take guests up and down Trade Street. </p><p>The exhibit displays through Sept. 13. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. </p><p>Call 828-817-3783, email info@skyukafineart.com or visit skyukafineart.com for more information.</p>